12.06.2017
Dublin’s Open Iftar – Powerful Picture of Integration, Community and Ireland at its Best
Under One Tent’s Open Iftar took place in St Patrick’s Park, Dublin, over the weekend. Irish people of all faiths and backgrounds were invited to take part in the celebration of Ramadan and break fast together at sunset. This was the event’s second year and it is organised by a group of young Irish Muslims who hope to encourage communication and understanding at a time when followers of Islam are being increasingly stigmatised.
With food, drinks, games, bouncy castles and inspiring talks the event focused on all the things we can share together, bringing together people of all faiths and the community as a whole.
Among the many people who attended on Friday evening was the Revd Stephen Farrell, Rector of Zion. On Saturday evening, Scott Evans, Church of Ireland Chaplain at UCD, was one of the speakers. Here they both give their impressions.
Stephen Farrell writes:
“On Friday evening I attended a marvellous event in St. Patrick’s Park – an open Iftar. Called Under One Tent, it was an initiative by the Muslim community to invite anyone and everyone to join with them as they broke their Ramadan fast at sunset. I was instantly struck by the warmth of the welcome and the sheer energy and positivity of the event. It was also the first time I have attended a religious occasion where I felt old – it was a young crowd, with students and young professionals and young families in abundance. There was a lot of joy and laughter in the tent. We were literally ‘Under One Tent’, shoes off, sitting on the floor, talking, listening and sharing.
“The purpose of the event was to celebrate and encourage dialogue and diversity, mutual–understanding and respect. At sunset the fast was broken with bowls of dates and water, this was followed by prayers and then everyone was treated to a marvellous chicken biryani. I spoke to some students who had become involved in the event through the Islamic Societies in the Dublin Universities. They spoke of wanting the Muslim community to be at the heart of Irish Society and not at its periphery. They saw the Iftar as a way of inviting the people of Dublin to get to know their Muslim neighbours, and for the Muslim community to be able to offer and share hospitality and welcome. Above all, the Iftar was easy and it was fun.
“I came away with a real sense of hope and with deep gratitude that people are doing this important work. I also came away wondering if parishes could hold similar events as a means of reaching out. The idea of strengthening ties through the breaking of bread offers common ground for the building of interfaith friendships. Under One Tent was my first Iftar, but it will not be my last. The breadth of Irish society present in that tent is testament to the efforts made to extend a very warm welcome to everyone. It was truly a privilege to be present.”
Scott Evans writes:
“One of the highlights of my time in UCD so far has been engaging in inter–faith dialogue with the diverse community of students on campus. Though I grew up in a Muslim country, my understanding of other faiths was limited to what I had been taught from a distance through religious education. It was only when I started in chaplaincy that I had the chance to dive deeply into specific issues from the perspective of different faiths through the lens of students doing their best to live it out. Over the last two years, we have gathered as Protestants, Catholics, Muslims, Baha’is, Jews, Atheists and Agnostics and shared what our faith or beliefs have taught us about suffering, love, peace, hope, the meaning of life and more. These conversations have led to community and friendship which is so beautiful to see in a world that is so often divided. From this introduction to the Muslim community on campus, I’ve been able to meet many Muslim students, talk to them about their problems and come alongside them.
“As a result of these relationships, I was recently asked to speak at ‘Open Iftar 2017’, an event focused on fostering an atmosphere of unity and harmony in Irish society organised by Irish Muslim Youth on the Under One Tent Team. The event was packed and featured youth speakers from the Muslim community as well as an academic from Limerick who shared about his research into Islamophobia in Ireland and the Lord Mayor of Dublin. I was asked to speak on how different faith communities can work together and shared about learning to disagree well, learning to celebrate each other and learning to do more than dialogue and actually do life together.
“At sunset, we joined the Muslim youth as they broke fast and celebrated Ramadan together. It was a wonderful evening and a powerful picture of integration, community and what Ireland can be at its best. I’m looking forward to seeing how these connections grow in the future as we invest in partnership and dialogue with those from other faiths.”
